The Okay-Drama’s largest power up to now has been the way it has successfully balanced nuance in writing with its heartfelt and likeable characters
The Okay-Drama’s largest power up to now has been the way it has successfully balanced nuance in writing with its heartfelt and likeable characters
Every episode of Extraordinary Attorney Woo which has aired up to now is greatest summed up by the second of enlightenment that the present’s titular protagonist experiences: a ‘whale eureka’. A smile breaks out on her face as realisation dawns, there’s a robust wind that ruffles her hair, and we reduce to the picture of an impressive whale within the sea.
When we meet Woo Young-Woo (Park Eun-Bin), a rookie lawyer who has autism spectrum dysfunction, she’s all set to affix hot-shot regulation agency Hanbada. A framed newspaper clipping on the partitions of her father’s Kimbap restaurant tells us that she is the primary autistic lawyer in South Korea who has graduated summa cum laude from the Seoul National University.
At the start, one can’t assist however are inclined to method the sequence with some degree of trepidation. When exhibits have protagonists who’re neurodivergent, there’s usually an absence of nuance and empathy within the writing, and the characters turn into caricatures.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo, nevertheless, is the proper instance of how good writing, empathy, and sensitivity can unfold superbly on-screen. No shock then that this Okay-Drama has taken audiences the world over by storm and has seen a meteoric rise in its scores. It can also be reported to have topped Netflix’s checklist of most-watched non-English exhibits for a few weeks.
Woo Young-Woo is a genius, has a photographic reminiscence, loves Kimbap, and adores aquatic mammals… whales specifically. If you’re groaning about the truth that that is one more individual on the spectrum depicted as a savant on-screen, EAW successfully addresses this and a lot extra about being on the spectrum by Young-Woo, as she takes on office challenges, tackles prejudice, and types strong friendships.
A nonetheless from ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’
At Hanbada, Young-Woo has her first brush with office ableism as her prickly senior, Attorney Jung Myeong-seok (Kang Ki-young is lower than comfortable to have her on his workforce. He marches to the chairperson of the agency, and says he wants ‘an attorney who can meet with clients and go on trials’.
It is her neurodivergence right here that stands out to him, greater than her stellar file and honours as a regulation graduate. Her different colleagues at Hanbada comprise fellow lawyer Choi Soo-Yeon (Ha Yoon-Kyung) who was her regulation faculty classmate, and Kwon Min-Woo (Joo Jong-Hyuk). There’s additionally type and candy Lee Jun-Ho(Kang Tae-Oh) from the authorized workforce there, who helps her navigate the relatively sophisticated revolving doorways at work on her first day, and shortly turns into her lunch buddy.
Any expectations that the main target of the present will stay solely tailed on Young-Woo struggling or settling down at work is quashed early on. She is assigned her first case quickly sufficient, and it isn’t lengthy earlier than Myeong-Seok is impressed; any issues about him changing into the stereotypical tough boss Young-Woo should go up in opposition to is fortunately finished away with.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
No. of episodes: 16 (10 up to now)
Director: Yoo In-Shik
Cast: Park Eun-Bin, Kang Tae-Oh, Kang Ki-Young
Writer: Moon Ji-Won
Storyline: Woo Young-Woo, an excellent lawyer who can also be on the autism spectrum, navigates challenges within the courtroom
It is in depicting these office relationships and friendships that author Moon Ji-Won goes off the crushed observe. Young-Woo, fortunately, can also be not pitted in opposition to the opposite feminine member of her workforce, Attorney Choi. They, in reality, go on to turn into loyal pals and get in all probability the most effective scenes within the present, that’s certain to depart you a blubbering mess.
Okay-Dramas have all the time excelled at feminine friendships, and be it Attorney Choi or Dong Geu-Rami (Young-Woo’s faculty buddy who’s her largest cheerleader), there’s a lot love, assist, and heat to experience.
Each episode offers with a case that Young-Woo’s workforce at Hanbada takes up, and thru her eyes, the narrative goes above and past limiting itself to a staid procedural drama. We observe her journey as she discovers one thing new about folks, ethics, and the world round her with every case.
The circumstances vary from an aged consumer coping with a homicide cost in opposition to her husband, a North-Korean defector who has been accused of assault, to serving to the residents of the quaint city Sodeak Dong take the authorized route in opposition to the development of a freeway, whereas going up in opposition to rival regulation agency Taesan.
Law agency Hanbada and the those that EAW focuses on, are a microcosm of the world exterior and the way it treats folks like Young-Woo who’re on the spectrum. There are a number of scenes that drive us as viewers to mirror on our internalised prejudices. When Young-Woo is strolling with Jun-Ho, the latter’s classmate who runs into them, asks if he’s volunteering with the disabled from a house close by. The ableism can also be adopted by office sexism, particularly made evident when Young-Woo meets a brand new consumer who doesn’t acknowledge her presence, since they’re in a room filled with male attorneys.
There’s sensitivity, humour, and kindness that Park Eun-Bin brings together with her portrayal of Attorney Woo. This is a career-best function for the actor, and comes shut on the heels of her efficiency in The King’s Affection for which she bagged a Baeksang award nomination. She is a deal with to look at, be it when she’s spiritedly arguing in court docket, or as she quietly speaks about her autism, and the best way folks understand her.
However, there was some legitimate criticism about Young-Woo not having been performed by an actor with autism. But the writing and the style during which the character has been conceived, deserves to be lauded. At no level in EAW is Young-Woo made a mockery of, and there’s a lot to like and study from her.
Playing ‘greenest flag’ Jun-Ho as he’s being celebrated by the followers, Kang Tae-Oh is charming and candy. There’s real admiration, and heat as he seems out for Young-Woo, although by no means overstepping his boundaries professionally, and remaining a silent, strong ally. It is admirable how this romance has not overshadowed all the opposite elements of the present, and it will likely be fascinating to see how the connection is taken ahead within the coming episodes. Seen in comedic roles in different common Okay-Dramas, Kang Ki-young can also be a revelation because the quiet, severe and but supportive senior lawyer Jung Myeong-seok.
With ten episodes down, the Okay-Drama is now transferring into its last three weeks the place six episodes might be aired. There’s skilled challenges, drama surrounding Young-Woo’s delivery mom, and a romantic relationship all on the anvil. EAW’s largest power up to now has been the way it has successfully balanced sensitivity and nuance in writing with its heartfelt and likeable characters. Here’s to hoping the empathy and acceptance proceed!
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is presently streaming on Netflix
Source: www.thehindu.com